Manage hypertension aggressively
Many patients with CKD also have hypertension,33,34
possibly because they have a higher
frequency of underlying essential hypertension
or because CKD often worsens preexisting
hypertension. Moreover, uncontrolled hypertension
is associated with a further decline
in renal function.35,36
The ACCORD trial37 found no benefit in
lowering systolic blood pressure to less than
120 mm Hg compared with less than 140 mm
Hg in patients with diabetes mellitus. (The
patients in this study did not necessarily have
CKD.)
A meta-analysis38 of trials of antihypertensive
treatment in patients with CKD found
that the optimal target systolic blood pressure
for decreasing the progression of CKD was 110
to 129 mm Hg. The relative risk of progression
of renal dysfunction was:
• 1.83 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.97–
3.44) at 130 mm to 139 mm Hg, vs
• 3.14 (95% CI 1.64–5.99) at 160 mm Hg
or higher.
There is also evidence that blood pressure
control can be relaxed as patients age. While
the exact age differs among published guidelines,
the evidence supports a goal blood pressure
of less than 150/90 mm Hg once a patient
reaches the age of 70, regardless of CKD or
proteinuria.
Recommendation. Current evidence suggests
the following blood pressure goals in
CKD patients:
• With diabetes mellitus or proteinuria:
< 130/80 mm Hg
• Without proteinuria: < 140/90 mm Hg
• Age 70 and older: